WHY EUROPE NEEDS NEW ENERGY

Silent Killers; Why Europe must replace coal power with green energy

June 11, 2013 (Greenpeace International)

“32,000 life years would be robbed every year if the coal-fired power plants currently under construction or in planning go into operation. This loss of life is entirely unnecessary, as renewable energy and the latest cutting-edge energy-efficient solutions enable us to keep Europe's lights on…Coal-fired power plants are among the worst sources of toxic air pollutants in the EU and globally…

“…Acid gas, soot, and dust emissions from coal are the biggest industrial contributors to microscopic particulate pollution that penetrates deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream. The pollution harms the health of babies, children and adults, causing heart attacks and lung cancer, as well as increasing asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. Tens of thousands of kilograms of toxic metals such as mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium are spewed out of the stacks, contributing to cancer risk and harming children’s development…”

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“…[Coal buring increased] in Europe each year from 2009 to 2012, and with more than 50 new dirty power plants in development…[Silent Killers; Why Europe must replace coal power with green energy] from the Stuttgart University…investigates the health impacts of each of the 300 operating large power plants in the EU, as well as the predicted impact of the 50 new projects if they come online.

“…Using a sophisticated health impact assessment model, the report estimates that pollution from coal-fired power plants in the EU resulted in thousands of premature deaths, shortening the lives of Europeans by an estimated total of 240,000 lost life years in 2010. In countries with heavy coal use, the results indicate that more people are killed by coal than in traffic accidents…European governments need to set targets for green energy that ensure coal can be phased out.”

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